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Hi James,
I'm always interested to hear what experienced observers such as you are se=
eing in their local area at this time of year. There are invariably reports=
of birds on the move and of birds disappearing from the woods through much=
of Nova Scotia during the last two weeks of July and I see similar reports=
from other parts of eastern Canada.
So what's going on? It could be that most of Nova Scotia's breeding birds m=
ove out of the province in small groups at this time of year. However, obse=
rvations at locations in the south end of the province such as Brier Island=
indicate that the southern migration of most song birds in Nova Scotia doe=
sn't really begin for another 3-4 weeks and for species such as the Blue-he=
aded Vireos you saw, not for another 6-7 weeks. In fact, as you mention, ma=
ny nests, especially on the coast and on offshore islands, won't even have =
fledged their young for another few weeks.
Certainly in some years of early breeding success, some flocks do leave Nov=
a Scotia earlier than expected. However, I suspect that what's usually happ=
ening is that many adults and fledged young are gathering into small, pre-m=
igration, feeding flocks. These mostly remain in thicker cover at this time=
of year and stay there building up their fat reserves for several weeks. C=
ombine this with the fact that the males stop singing from exposed position=
s and the result is that the flock is simply not very conspicuous. When bir=
ds are seen in these groups at this time of year after an absence of a week=
or three they are often thought to be migrating.
However, this is speculation on my part. I'll be very interested to see if =
you continue to notice similar groups in your area over the coming weeks wh=
ich would lend some support to the idea.
All the best,
Lance
Lance Laviolette
Glen Robertson, Ontario
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] =
On Behalf Of James Hirtle
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 7:55 AM
To: Naturens Naturens
Subject: EXTERNAL: [NatureNS] Birds on the move
As a casual observation from Lunenburg County, I've noticed that over the p=
ast two weeks birds have gone from territory to moving slightly to gone alt=
ogether at most locations. So birds have started moving in migration. Esp=
ecially the woods warblers, veeries and blue-headed vireos. This was espec=
ially obvious from Walden, through to Woodstock, and into Mahone Bay and at=
the Fauxburg Trail. Hermit thrushes, Eastern Wood Pewees and Red-eyed vir=
eos still seem to be strongly on territory and there are still a few warble=
rs who likely are late nesters on territory yet. One common yellowthroat e=
specially. A male who came out and flew around me and then did the broken =
wing thing making a total circle around my feet and then trying to lead me =
away, staying in close proximity until I was away from the nest site.
James R. Hirtle
Bridgewater
--_000_92470D8023567B4D8D50FBA6E5E9D00F0EB2ADFF4AHCXMSP1calmco_
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nk=3Dpurple><div class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'f=
ont-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi James,=
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;=
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span><=
/p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibr=
i","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I’m always interested to hear what exp=
erienced observers such as you are seeing in their local area at this time =
of year. There are invariably reports of birds on the move and of birds dis=
appearing from the woods through much of Nova Scotia during the last two we=
eks of July and I see similar reports from other parts of eastern Canada. <=
o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;f=
ont-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></=
p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri=
","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>So what’s going on? It could be that mo=
st of Nova Scotia’s breeding birds move out of the province in small =
groups at this time of year. However, observations at locations in the sout=
h end of the province such as Brier Island indicate that the southern migra=
tion of most song birds in Nova Scotia doesn’t really begin for anoth=
er 3-4 weeks and for species such as the Blue-headed Vireos you saw, not fo=
r another 6-7 weeks. In fact, as you mention, many nests, especi